For the next few months we will be making changes, and updating this newsletter in attempt to create an online page in which we are able to update daily if needed. At the end of the day, our goal is for the newsletter to be somewhere our members come for updates they may have missed in the weekly e-Updates!

Met PGA HOPE Instructors Needed

The Met PGA HOPE class schedule is below. We are very excited for the beginning of training sessions, but we are in need of instructors. Please sign up below.

Also, if your course would be interested in hosting a PGA HOPE Play Day at your course or offering discounts/access to our veterans this season please email Kelli Clayton (kclayton@pgahq.com) for more information.

West Point: West Point GC –SIGN UP TO TEACHWednesdays: May 16, 23, June 6, 13, 27
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Graduation: July 5th at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point

Long Island: Crab Meadow GC -SIGN UP TO TEACHThursdays: May 10, 17, 24, June 7, 21
Time: 3PM-5PM
Graduation: July 5th at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point

Met PGA Board of Director’s Proposes Updates to the Constitution

The Metropolitan PGA Board of Directors has recently reviewed and the Metropolitan PGA Constitution and is proposing updates and changes. The proposed changes consist predominantly of grammatical fixes, but there is a fundamental change in the proposal to include the Assistant’s President as a voting member of the Board of Directors. For many years, this individual has been invited to attend and participate in board meetings and calls, without an official vote. This change would reduce the number of appointed directors from ten to nine, with the tenth seat being filled by the Assistant’s President following their election. Another necessary change is the inclusion of a replacement clause when a director must vacate their position. This has formerly been done as an unwritten policy and this change would adopt this process into code.

Pursuant to the Constitution, there will be a Special Meeting conducted immediately prior to the 2018 Met PGA Spring Meeting on Thursday April 12th at Old Westbury. These changes will be briefly reviewed and may be adopted with a two-thirds majority vote of those PGA members in attendance. Please review these changes and come to this Special Meeting prepared to vote.

Tournaments

Upcoming Tournaments

Tournament Dues for PGA Members, and Playing Privileges for Associates and non-PGA Assistant Professionals
Open for registration on web site. Must establish prior to registration for tournaments.

MasterCard Match Play Championship Qualifying—also Qualifying for Met PGA Senior Match Play
Monday, April 23rd at Rockaway Hunting Club
Monday, April 23rd at CC of Darien

General Volunteer Registration Open for the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black

Volunteer registration is now open for any of your members, family or friends interested in working at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course. Special jobs will be reserved for Met PGA members, and those interested in volunteering are asked to contact Jeff Voorheis. PGA of America officials are encouraging all interested general volunteers to register exclusively through the online registration system by visiting PGA.com/2019Volunteer.

All volunteer positions will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Interested parties should sign up now to ensure placement on their preferred committee. Individuals who volunteer for the 2019 PGA Championship will also be granted an advanced opportunity to register as a volunteer for the 2024 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, ahead of the General Public. Given the international appeal of the Ryder Cup, volunteering for next year’s PGA Championship will be the only way to guarantee access to what should be one of the toughest tickets in New York sporting event history.

Announcements and Reminders

Met PGA Member Milestone Program Sponsored by Morrell Studios

We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Morell Studios to create a new Met PGA Milestone Program starting this Spring. This program was created to highlight the accomplishments of both our newest members as well as pay tribute to our more tenured PGA Professionals reaching Quarter and Half Century status. Beginning at this year’s Spring Meeting Morell Studios will be presenting Met PGA Milestone Awards to those professionals who have either earned their PGA Membership, Quarter Century, or Half Century status since our Fall Meeting in 2017. Members who reach PGA Milestones during the season will be recognized at the Fall Meeting in 2018. CLICK HERE for press release.

Powers, Spivak, and Wright Become PAT Examiners

Congratulations to three Met PGA professionals on becoming a Playing Ability Test Examiners. Thanks to Jack Powers of Aspetuck Valley, Joe Spivak of Garrison, and Ron Wright of Middle Bay, for their commitment to this important aspect of the path to PGA membership.

Woodmere Club to Dedicate Practice Range to Moresco’s Memory

The Woodmere Club has notified us of the upcoming dedication of their practice range. At 2:00 pm on Sunday May 6th, Woodmere will hold a small ceremony in memory of their longtime head professional, and Met PGA Past President, Joe Moresco. The club has invited Joe’s friends and Met PGA members to attend.

Sams Accepts Head Professional Position

After successful stints as an assistant at South Fork and Richmond County CC, Patrick Sams has accepted the head professional position at Lake Naomi Club in Pocono Pines, PA. We are sorry to see Pat leave the section, but wish him all the best as he joins the head professional ranks.

Condolences

Vincent Adams, father of longtime Met PGA member, Peter Adams passed away peacefully in his home on February 7th. Vincent was the head professional at Ridgefield Golf Course for 24 years and his son Peter spent over 25 years in the Met Section, highlighted by his service to at Ridgefield and CC of Darien. Contributions in Vincent’s memory may be made to the Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Rd, Danbury, CT 06810. To share condolences online, please visit www.cornellmemorial.com.

PGA of America News and Notes

Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Annual Dues Billing Preliminary plans are underway for items related to the Annual Dues Billing project. An email was sent to all Executive Directors on February 13, 2018 requesting that the 2018/2019 Section Dues Rates be submitted no later than Friday, March 9, 2018. Thank you to those Sections who have already submitted the schedule. And this is a reminder for all others who still need to complete and submit the 2019 form, please and thank you.

Changes Approved in January 2018 by the Board of Directors

Four (4) changes were made to the PGA Constitution and Bylaws. These changes were recommended by Education, Employment and/or Membership Committees.

Modified the Eligible Employment Regulation in regard to the number of hours, from 36 hour to 30 hours a dual profession employed PGA Member must work on average in order to be considered eligibly employed. Employment must be in an area required by their classification and must average at least 30 hours a week for the entire season. The length of the season is determined by the Section.

Modified the definition of Life Member to remove the loophole that allowed some eligibly employed Members to be classified as Life Member. Life Members, defined as Members who have held a minimum of 20 years in an Active Classification (whether continuous or not) and who do not otherwise, based on current employment status, qualify for an Active Classification, may elect to classify as either: (i) Life Member-Active; or (ii) Life Member Retired

Modified the term Inactive to Reserve. Therefore, the Inactive classification will now be known as the Reserve classification.

Modified the term Apprentice(s) to Associate(s). Therefore, Apprentices will now be referred to PGA Associate(s). Along with this, PGA Golf Management University Students will now be referred to as PGA Student.

PGA Facility Operations Scorecard

Through your continued support, we are able to host the PGA Facility Operations Scorecard (formerly known as the PGA Annual Operations Survey) to help provide our PGA Professionals with key statistics and benchmarking capabilities to support management of golf and club operations. We encourage you to participate so we can continue to provide comprehensive facility data that is reflective of the marketplace. Sporting a new, streamlined design, the scorecard is geared towards making data more efficient and relevant to each PGA Professional filling out the scorecard, where questions are more aligned with revenue and expense topics that are important to PGA Professionals and their facility. PGA Professionals are asked to complete this survey before June 4th. New this year, PGA Professionals have the opportunity to earn up to three (3) MSR credits depending on the level of detail they wish to provide by completing the scorecard with valid, usable data by the deadline. MSRcredit is automatically applied upon completion of the scorecard. The scorecard is currently available for the highest-ranked PGA Professional at each facility, by clickingHERE!

US Senior Women’s Open Championship

Applications are now available at champs.usga.org for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship. The inaugural Championship will be conducted at the Chicago Golf Club on July 12-15. The application and informational PDF, available at the above link, include the eligibility criteria, exemption categories and qualifying sites. All players, including those exempt, must complete an entry application no later than Wednesday, May 23rd at 5pm EDT.

US Kids

U.S. Kids Golf will present its day-long Certified Coach Seminar in the Metropolitan Section on Tuesday, April 24 at Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY. PGA Members attending the program receive 8 MSR credits for the day and an additional 2 MSR credits for completing the optional online certification requirements.
For more information, or to register, please click here!

Focus Band Level 1 Certification

The Golf Performance Center welcomes Henry Boulton, co-creator of Focus Band, for a two day, Level 1 Certification. Henry will cover the use of Focus Band hardware and software, breathing drills to access Mushin or "empty mind", understanding neuro feedback and how to give a neurocombine, along with many other aspects of utilizing this innovative technology being used by some of the best players in the world including Jason Day, Justin Rose, and Padraig Harrington. Each participant will leave with the knowledge of how to better access states of flow and help students do the same. For more information on the certification click here.

US Open Homes for Rent

Through various connections, we have been apprised of homeowners interested in renting their properties in the Hamptons this June for US Open attendees. See below if you have friends or members interested:
Larry Zona - (917) 375-4586; hamptonhouse@gmail.com
Jane Matluck—jhmatluck@gmail.com